Comments on: 5 Mistakes to Avoid During Finals http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-24582 Mary Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:39:06 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-24582 <blockquote>Calculating my grade gives me some motivation: “Come on, you want to get that grade, work for it”</blockquote> Agreed. Also, anxiety tends to drive my procrastination and seeing that I only have to get X in order to get an A+ or an A in the course helps to calm me down. Even better is the realization that "Oh well, the worst case scenario (assuming no catastrophe) is that I don't do as well as I want to and I get an A-". After seeing that I can move on to not being so hung up on perfection. Also, I can balance my study time. If there's a class in which I only need to get an 85% on the final in order to get an A+, I can focus proportionately less time on studying for it than the one in which I'm going to be struggling just to get an A.

Calculating my grade gives me some motivation: “Come on, you want to get that grade, work for it”

Agreed. Also, anxiety tends to drive my procrastination and seeing that I only have to get X in order to get an A+ or an A in the course helps to calm me down. Even better is the realization that “Oh well, the worst case scenario (assuming no catastrophe) is that I don’t do as well as I want to and I get an A-”. After seeing that I can move on to not being so hung up on perfection.

Also, I can balance my study time. If there’s a class in which I only need to get an 85% on the final in order to get an A+, I can focus proportionately less time on studying for it than the one in which I’m going to be struggling just to get an A.

]]> By: N http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-24538 N Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:18:55 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-24538 @Alex / People with ADD or similar: I recently discovered websites which offer white/pink/brown noise, which helped me focus. There are a number of sites/apps for it. The one I use is simplynoise.com @Alex / People with ADD or similar:
I recently discovered websites which offer white/pink/brown noise, which helped me focus. There are a number of sites/apps for it. The one I use is simplynoise.com

]]> By: Comment avoir de bonnes notes ? Arrêtez de « réviser  ! « Waladex http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-24455 Comment avoir de bonnes notes ? Arrêtez de « réviser  ! « Waladex Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:49:38 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-24455 [...] bons résultats en classe et pendant les examens ? Voici un petit conseil de l’excellent blog Study Hacks (5 erreurs à éviter pendant les partiels): arrêtez de « réviser » [...]

[...] bons résultats en classe et pendant les examens ? Voici un petit conseil de l’excellent blog Study Hacks (5 erreurs à éviter pendant les partiels): arrêtez de « réviser » [...]

]]> By: Candy Dish: Spencer and Heidi Hit the Beach : College Candy http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-9711 Candy Dish: Spencer and Heidi Hit the Beach : College Candy Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:21:34 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-9711 [...] 5 mistakes to avoid during finals. [...]

[...] 5 mistakes to avoid during finals. [...]

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7578 Study Hacks Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:07:28 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7578 <blockquote>I am by far my most productive when I e.g. work at a cafe or some place with noise and activity. </blockquote> A lot of people benefit from white noise. I would sometime study at the cafe at Borders, for example. By "social" studying, I think I'm referring more to the idea that people you know are with you and bothering you.

I am by far my most productive when I e.g. work at a cafe or some place with noise and activity.

A lot of people benefit from white noise. I would sometime study at the cafe at Borders, for example. By “social” studying, I think I’m referring more to the idea that people you know are with you and bothering you.

]]> By: Alex http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7575 Alex Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:19:54 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7575 This is basically mostly good advice, but I have to take issue with #4, "social working", or specifically with the idea that "monastic isolation" makes for the best working environment. While it is no doubt true that for many people it is difficult/unproductive to study while surrounded by a constant moderate level of activity/noise, I personally have found quite the opposite -- I am by far my most productive when I e.g. work at a cafe or some place with noise and activity. The dead silence of an empty room or a quiet library are often the worst. This is probably related to my ADHD, in that my biggest distractors are often internal (e.g. unrelated thoughts popping up, etc), and partially "drowning them out" with external stimuli (which I can then in turn ignore) is often the most effective approach to studying, for me. It took me a while to realize this. I feel that the most important thing here is to be honest about one's motivations and reactions. If seeking out social and "buzzing" surroundings is just a sophisticated form of procrastination, a way to "work" without actually working, then that's a problem; if it soothes the mental junk and allows one to finally catalyze one of those "energetic bursts", then it's surely an appropriate choice. This is basically mostly good advice, but I have to take issue with #4, “social working”, or specifically with the idea that “monastic isolation” makes for the best working environment. While it is no doubt true that for many people it is difficult/unproductive to study while surrounded by a constant moderate level of activity/noise, I personally have found quite the opposite — I am by far my most productive when I e.g. work at a cafe or some place with noise and activity. The dead silence of an empty room or a quiet library are often the worst. This is probably related to my ADHD, in that my biggest distractors are often internal (e.g. unrelated thoughts popping up, etc), and partially “drowning them out” with external stimuli (which I can then in turn ignore) is often the most effective approach to studying, for me. It took me a while to realize this. I feel that the most important thing here is to be honest about one’s motivations and reactions. If seeking out social and “buzzing” surroundings is just a sophisticated form of procrastination, a way to “work” without actually working, then that’s a problem; if it soothes the mental junk and allows one to finally catalyze one of those “energetic bursts”, then it’s surely an appropriate choice.

]]> By: Geoff http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7436 Geoff Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:51:08 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7436 I've found that organized group "study nights" very nearly kill any chance I had at, in fact, studying. The real problem is not just the noise, a beehive-like murmuring of many people reading <em>almost</em> silently, but also the vast number of available social opportunities. This creates an environment that usually leaves me <em>more</em> exhausted and <em>less</em> capable of performing well on a final. This is particularly true of the brilliant study nights which are scheduled to last until midnight or later. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to bed. I had a study night yesterday. I’ve found that organized group “study nights” very nearly kill any chance I had at, in fact, studying.

The real problem is not just the noise, a beehive-like murmuring of many people reading almost silently, but also the vast number of available social opportunities.

This creates an environment that usually leaves me more exhausted and less capable of performing well on a final. This is particularly true of the brilliant study nights which are scheduled to last until midnight or later.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to bed. I had a study night yesterday.

]]> By: Study Hacks » Blog Archive » How to Ace Essay Questions Using the Three Minute Rule http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7432 Study Hacks » Blog Archive » How to Ace Essay Questions Using the Three Minute Rule Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:17:57 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7432 [...] sit down for the test itself. Of course, this advice assumes you’ve done smart preparation (see last week’s post on exam prep mistakes for some pointers on this topic). But assuming you know your stuff, this advice will teach you how [...]

[...] sit down for the test itself. Of course, this advice assumes you’ve done smart preparation (see last week’s post on exam prep mistakes for some pointers on this topic). But assuming you know your stuff, this advice will teach you how [...]

]]> By: Jon Kho http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7428 Jon Kho Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:06:11 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7428 I think Reshmi is referring on how to score for the programming paper during the final exam.. In fact, during my studies when i was a post graduate, i am managed to get above 90% for my programming assignments(which i think most students would get) but i managed to get a borderline pass the final paper with much suffering. In fact, i am finding ways to improve my study habits for programming during this holiday period.. I think Reshmi is referring on how to score for the programming paper during the final exam.. In fact, during my studies when i was a post graduate, i am managed to get above 90% for my programming assignments(which i think most students would get) but i managed to get a borderline pass the final paper with much suffering.

In fact, i am finding ways to improve my study habits for programming during this holiday period..

]]> By: David http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7413 David Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:46:35 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/12/01/5-mistakes-to-avoid-during-finals/#comment-7413 @Reshmi For teaching yourself programming, the "SAMS teach yourself" series might be worth looking into. They have books for Java, SQL, C, XHTML, HTML, among others. Just do a Google search and I'm sure you'll get something. @Reshmi

For teaching yourself programming, the “SAMS teach yourself” series might be worth looking into. They have books for Java, SQL, C, XHTML, HTML, among others. Just do a Google search and I’m sure you’ll get something.

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